Little sad I didn't get to try this classic place:
I did do some calculations while I was hangin around. Looks like I hit the 1,000 mile mark just before I got to town. An encouraging thought.
Sun had come out again, and I could dry my shoes in the morning light- they always take the longest to dry out. Had to do some errands before I could hit the trail. First to the bike store, needed to borrow some degreaser for the chain. It always gets nasty and crunchy after a ride in the rain. Then off to a grocery store. Needed powdered milk. Only the big ones have an item like that, so had to venture bag through Ashwuabanon to the big box store. Always difficult to navigate all the auto infrastructure, makes me feel very out of place on a bike. Always seem to be channeled onto a highway. And when not on it, it's impossible to find a place to cross.
Got what I needed, but realized my chain was making a funny sound. Took a look at it and had to re-thread it. Not terribly hard, but it was all lubed up, which made it harder. Always have this daunting feeling when doing things like that, realizing if I don't fix this one thing, I can't go anywhere or do anything. Good for focus.
Lucky to have another rail trail all the way from Howard to Shawano. Started off nice gravel but deteriorated to a mere jeep track before long. Pretty but slow.
Debated leaving it for pavement, which I did a couple times, only to be stuck out in the winds again, or climbing hills. Always trade-offs. Easy to forget how debilitating those winds are. The kind that you have to pedal downhill just to stay upright. And in the flats it feels like you're going uphill, just no momentum at all.
Really in the "Hartland" now...
Took the first break in Shawano, maybe 30 miles from Green Bay.
Dude at the city park asked me if I wanted weed. Told him no, and he said my shorts looked like I shit myself. He's not wrong. But thats what 60 miles a day on a black seat does to a pair of orange shorts.
Another trail lead from Shawano towards Bowler, another 20 miles. I busted out the other twenty as the day was slipping by quickly, and was pretty worn out when I got there. Passed my the Mohican reservation and casino, and within 10 minutes saw two people pulled over. Friday night on the rez I guess.
In Bowler (pronounced BO-ler I was told later, not BAU-ler) I stopped at a baseball diamond where some kids were playing. They have nice dugouts and I considered camping there, but I asked a kid, said they had a game in the morning. Darn. So onwards, 7 more miles to the next campsite. Tired as hell but very pretty so late in the evening. Really taking advantage of these long days.
The campground had a Bar and Grill, which was really hopping, with pool table and all. Got a site for cheap, but ended up next to a family reunion. I said hello, figuring I shouldn't be stranger, and they invited me to have some food (as I hoped they might). It was mighty tasty, but I think they got a little annoyed when I went back for seconds and a third... woops.
Dog tired.
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